“She’s hungry,” Conrad points out.
“Yes, but if it’s too early, Wren might get pissed.”
“Meh.” Owen waves me off. “One time isn’t going to hurt anything. She’s not going to be pissed.”
“What do you think, Maddie? Is Mommy going to be mad at us?” The cutie smiles around her bottle, flaps her arms and begins to drink again. “Okay, you’re right. I’m on your side. You have to stand up for me,” I tell her. “We’re in this together.”
Fifteen minutes later, Madeline has sucked her bottle dry and is snoozing away in my arms. That’s how the women find us when they enter the kitchen. “She was hungry,” I tell Wren as soon as she lays eyes on us.
“She ate before we got here.”
“Well, she ate again.” I hold up the empty bottle with my free hand.
“Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
I look down at the baby in my arms. “She was an angel.”
“I should get her home,” she says, stepping next to me.
“I’ll put her in her seat.” I move to the other side of the counter and place the sleeping baby into her seat. She sighs but doesn’t wake up. I quickly strap her in, something I’ve done a million times with my nephews.
“I’ll be right back,” Aspen tells Conrad.
“I can take them,” I offer. I wasn’t going to head out this early, but something inside me is telling me that I need to take them home. I need to know where she lives, and I just… need to make sure she’s okay.
“Wren?” Aspen asks.
“I live in town. I’m sure it’s on the way.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Wren asks.
“Positive.”
“Wait. I need a car seat base.”
“I have one.”
Surprise crosses her face. “You do?”
“Of course I do.” I point at my chest. “Favorite uncle.”
“Here we go.” Owen laughs.
“Wren, put us out of our misery so we don’t have to listen to this nonsense,” Conrad tells her. “Everyone knows I’m the favorite uncle.”
“That would be me.” Grant raises his hand.
“Clearly, it’s me,” Royce chimes in.
“I’ve got you all beat,” Owen says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Fine.” Wren laughs. It’s a musical sound, and after seeing her tears, a welcome sight. “We better go before a fight breaks out.”
“Nah, they’re all bark and no bite,” Aspen tells her. “Before you leave, we need to exchange numbers.” She hands Wren her phone, and she quickly types in her number and hands it back. “Great. I’ll give it to the others,” Aspen tells her.
“Um… okay. Thank you.” I can tell by her reply she thinks Aspen is just being nice. She has no idea what she’s up against. They like Wren, and that means she’s in the circle. Hell, she was in the circle before Aspen brought her here. Which reminds me I still need to find out how they ended up here together.
“Ready?” I ask Wren.
“Yes. Thank you, Marshall. It seems you’ve been bailing me out a lot lately.”
“It’s no problem. I’ll see you all later.” I wave to my family as they shout out their goodbyes.
I load Madeline into the back of my car. I double-check to make sure her seat is secure, then step back, allowing Wren to do the same thing. I don’t take it personally as she’s her momma, and it’s her job above all else to keep her safe. In fact, I admire that about her.
Once we’re in the car, I ask for her address, and I don’t need a GPS to get me there. I know the building. “So, how did you end up with Aspen?” I ask.
“I stopped to feed Madeline. We were walking home, and she was fussing, and I knew she couldn’t make it a few more blocks. I just so happened to stop in front of her bakery. She was driving by and said that something told her to stop and talk to me. We talked, and she invited me over. I had no idea she was your family. I’m not stalking you or anything.”
A deep chuckle escapes my throat. “I didn’t even consider it. It was good to see you again. I’m glad you came.” I’m not just blowing smoke up her ass. Wren seems cool, and after learning all that she’s been through, a little Riggins Family interaction is exactly what she needed.
“Your family is great.”
“Thanks. How about yours? Do they drive you as crazy as mine do?”
“You know you love them, and no. I don’t have any family. My parents passed, and my late husband, Travis, that was his name. He grew up in foster care and had no immediate family that he was aware of. My best friend, Carrie, she’s my family.”
Did you hear that crack? That’s my heart. It’s cracked right down the middle for this woman and her daughter. “Well, you can borrow mine anytime that you want. I promise you’ll want to give them back,” I tease her.
“Stop.” She laughs. “They’re amazing. You’re lucky to have them.”
“I am,” I agree. “I’ll still loan them to you.”
“Deal.”
A few minutes later, I’m pulling into the parking lot of her apartment complex. “I’ll grab Madeline and carry her up for you. You grab the diaper bag.”
“I can manage. You’ve done too much already.”
“Nope. I’m walking you up.” Climbing out of the car, I’m in the back and releasing the car seat before she can stop me.
“There’s not an elevator, so it’s a long walk for you to only turn around and do it all over again.”
“What? You think I’m out of shape?” I have half a mind to lift my shirt and show her just how in shape I am but refrain. I’ve already came off as a creeper when we first met. I don’t need her to rethink that stance because I’m flashing her my abs.
“No. It’s just a lot.”
“Well, my momma raised me to be a gentleman. Besides, I promised Madeline I would.”
“Oh, you did, did you?” she asks, amusement in her voice.
“Yep. And I never break a promise.” So, it’s a little white lie. I don’t care because it makes her smile.
“If you have a hankering to get your cardio in, who am I to stop you.” She shrugs, grabs the diaper bag, and leads us into the building.
My eyes scan the place. It’s an older building but seems to be well kept. When we finally reach her door, she turns to face me. “It’s not much, but it’s home to us.”
“I’m not here to judge you, Wren.” She nods and opens the door, motioning me inside.
“You can just set her seat down by the couch. I’ll get her out and change her for bed.”
I do as she asks, all while taking in the small apartment, hoping she doesn’t see my eyes roaming. “Here you go, little lady,” I whisper to Madeline. “Sleep tight.” I don’t know why I do it, but I kiss the tips of my fingers and place them softly on her forehead.
“Thank you,” Wren whispers.
“Here.” I hand her my phone. “Add your number. I’ll text you with mine. If you ever need anything, call me.”